Apparatus for cutting off sections of an elongated member

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for breaking off a preselected length of an end portion of an elongated member as it is moved longitudinally along a path. The apparatus includes a pair of opposed cutters mounted on the rod ends of extensible-contractible rams at opposite sides of the path. Extension of the rams drives the cutters into opposite sides of the member. The cylinder ends of the rams are pivotally connected to a mounting frame, permitting the rams and cutters to swing freely in arcs to follow the movement of the member after the cutters are driven into its opposite sides. An actuating arm of a ram-control switch is positioned in the path of a member a preselected distance downstream from the cutters. When the actuating arm is engaged by the member, the arm is swung to an operative position which actuates the rams to drive the cutters into the sides of the member. A pusher arm connected to the actuating arm engages a side of the member downstream from the cutters and pushes it laterally of the path to aid in breaking and diverting the broken off portion to a conveyor.

United States Patent 1w] Hohmann Robert C. Hohmann. Grants Pass. ()reg.

l75| lnventor:

[731 Assignee: S. J. a/k/a Agnew Environmental Products Tenino. Walsh.

IZZI Filed: June 1. 1973 [21] Appl. 190.1365367 [521 U.S. Cl, ..83/291: 83/308183/314; 83/372 I51 I Int. Cl 826d 5/38 ISXI Field of Search 83/291. 3118, 314. 372.

156] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 886.298 4/19118 Johns 83/308 X 41994 10/1927 Parsons 83/291 X 1.9365 28 11/1933 Batchelor 83/308 3.224.310 12/1965 Bicri 83/308 X 1466360 9/1909 Buhurykin et :11 83/3tl8 Primary Examincr*Frank T. Yost Attorney. Agent, or Finn-Kolisch. Hartwell, Dickinson & Stuart 1 1 June 10, 1975 [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for breaking off a preselected length of an end portion of an elongated member as it is moved longitudinally along a path. The apparatus includes a pair of opposed cutters mounted on the rod ends of extensiblccontractib1e rams at opposite sides of the path. Extension of the rams drives the cutters into upposite sides of the member. The cylinder ends of the rams are pivotally connected to a mounting frame. permitting the rams and cutters to swing freely in arcs to follow the movement of the member after the cutters are driven into its opposite sides. An actuating arm of a ram-control switch is positioned in the path of a member a preselected distance downstream from the cutters. When the actuating arm is engaged by the member, the arm is swung to an operative position which actuates the rams to drive the cutters into the sides of the member. A pusher arm connected to the actuating arm engages a side of the member downstream from the cutters and pushes it laterally of the path to aid in breaking and diverting the broken off portion to a conveyor.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A SPECIFIC EMBODll ll-INT OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings. and first more specifi- This invention relates to apparatus for breaking an 5 cally to FIG. 1, at is ndicated generally apparatus elongated member into shorter sections as it is moved continuously. longitudinally along a path.

Various products are produced in elongated extrusions or castings and then are cut or broken into preselected shorter lengths. An example of such is found in the manufacture of pressed wood fuel logs. Such may be manufactured by bonding wood chips or sawdust ti gether in elongated. substantially continuous extrusions of circular cross section.

A general object of the present invention is to provide novel cutter. or breaker. apparatus which is operable simply and efficiently to break off preselected lengths of an elongated member as it is moved continuously along a path.

A further object is to provide such novel apparatus in which cutter elements are driven under power into opposite sides of the elongated member as it is carried along the path. and the cutter elements move freely with the member along the path until the member is broken.

In a specific embodiment of the invention, a pair of cutter elements are mounted on extensible-eontractiblc rams on opposite sides of the path for a member. On extension of the rams the cutter elements are driven into opposite sides of the member as it is moved along the path. Each cutter element and its associated ram are mounted on a frame through a journal connection spaced outwardly of the path from the cutter element. The pivot connection permits a ram and its associated cutter element to swing in an arc to follow the move ment of the member along the path, independently of the opposite cutter element and ram. With such construction, the cutter elements are operable to produce a cutting force while the member is moving without undesirable side thrust being imposed upon the cutter element. as would be the case were the cutter elements not able to move freely with the movement of the memher or if they were tied in some way to each other, with movement of one being dependent upon movement of the other.

A further object is the provision of novel length sensing means operable to sense when a preselected length of a member has moved past the cutter elements and then actuate the cutter elements.

A still further object is the provision of such apparatus which includes novel pusher means operable to produce a side thrust to the portion of the member to be broken off to aid in breaking the same and diverting it to a conveyor.

DRAWINGS These and other objects and advantages will become more fully apparent as the following description is read in conjunction with the drawings. wherein:

FIG, I is a top plan view of apparatus constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end elevation view of such apparatus taken generally along the line 2-2 in FIG. I; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of a camcontrolled switch in the apparatus.

according to an embodiment of the invention. The upparatus includes a mounting frame 12. A pair of elongated. opposed, parallel. laterally spaced. angle members l4. 16 are supported in substantially horizontal positions slightly above the top of frame 12. Angles l4, l6 define a guide space therebetween through which an elongated extruded member. such as a pressed wood fuel log extrusion 20 may be moved along a path in the direction of arrow 22. An elongated support bar 24 provides underlying support for the downstream end portion of the member as it passes beyond the downstream ends of angles l4, l6.

Disposed on opposite sides of the path for member 20 are opposed cutting, or breaking. devices 28. 30. The cutting devices are constructed and mounted in the apparatus in a similar manner. thus only device 28 will be described in detail.

Cutting device 28 includes an elongated, extensibleeontractible, double acting, fluid pressure operated ram 34 which comprises a cylinder 34a and a piston rod 34b. The cylinder end of the ram 34a is pivotally connected to frame 12 through a journal mounting 36. This journal mounting provides an upright pivot axis about which the ram may swing in a substantially horizontal plane. A tension spring is secured at one of its ends to frame 12 through an eye-bolt 42 and is connected at its opposite end to ram cylinder 34a. The spring is oper able yicldably to urge the ram to swing toward the eyebolt.

The forward, or right, end of ram cylinder 34a is supported on and is slidable over a horizontal portion 460 ofa bar 46 secured to frame 12. An upturned end portion 46b of bar 46 on the side of the cylinder toward eye-bolt 42 provides a stop to limit swinging of the ram toward the eye-bolt when the cylinder is disposed substantially normal to the path of member 20.

A cutter head 50 is mounted on the rod 34!) of the ram for extension and contraction therewith. A pair of vertically spaced. chisel-shaped cutter elements 52, 54 are secured to and project outwardly from head 50 toward the path of member 20. Element 52 is superposed directly above element 54. An elongated aligning rod 58, secured to and projecting horizontally outwardly from the top of the cylinder of the ram. is slidably received in an accommodating bore in head 50 to maintain the head in a substantially upright position, with the cutter elements properly superposed one over the other during extension and retraction of the ram.

A pair of fluid supply and exhaust conduits 62, 64 are connected to opposite ends of ram cylinder 34a, re spectively. Conduits 62. 64, along with similar conduits connected to the ram cylinder of cutting device 30. are opcrativcly connected. through a fluid control valve 68. and another conduit to an appropriate supply of fluid under pressure. In the instant embodiment. compressed air is used as the working fluid in the system.

()peratively connected in conduit 64, closely adja cent ram 34, is a quick-release exhaust valve 72. In op eration, when fluid under pressure is supplied through conduit 64 and its associated conduit in cutting device 30, and is exhausted from the opposite end of the rams cylinders. the cutter heads are retracted to the positions shown in FIGS. I and 2. out ol'the path ol a mem her to be cut. To drive the cutter elements into the path of member 20 and against opposed sides of the mem ber. valve 68 is actuated to supply fluid under pressure to conduit 62. and its associated conduit for cutting de vice 30. and to relieve fluid pressure from conduit 64 and its associated conduit for cutting device 30. When the pressure is relieved from conduit 64, valve 72 opens quickly releasing air under pressure from the rod end of the ram cylinder through exhaust tube 74. This provides much quicker action of the ram to drive the cutter head and cutter elements against a side of the member than would be provided if the exhaust lluid had to flow fully through valve 68 to exhaust. Further. the air exhausted through tube 74 is directed toward the cutting region between the cutting elements, thus to clear sawdust or other foreign material from that area.

Positioned downstream in the apparatus from cutting devices 28. 30 is switch mechanism indicated generally at 78 operatively connected through electrical conductors in conduit 79 to valve 68 for actuating the valve. as will be explained more fully below. The switch mechanism includes a plungentype switch 80 having an extensible-contractiblc plunger 82 with a roller 84 jour naled on its outer end. Biasing means within the switch yicldably biases the plunger and roller to the right in FIGSv I and 3. to an extended position.

A rotatable cam 88 is disposed adjacent roller 84 and is mounted for rotation about an upright axis on a pin 90. Cam 88 has an indented portion 880 indicated by the dashed outline in FIG. 3. When the cam is positioned so that roller 84 is resting on portion 880 the plunger is extended and switch 80 is open. When the switch is open. valve 68 is in a position to supply fluid under pressure to the rod ends of the rams of cutting devices 28. 30 thus to maintain the cutting heads in the retracted positions shown in solid outline in FIGS. I and 2. Rotation of the cam in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3, causes the roller to ride outwardly and onto the periphery of cam 88, thus depressing the plunger and closing switch 80. Such depressing of the plunger and closing of switch 80 actuates valve 68 to relieve the pressure from the conduits at the rod ends of the rams of cutting devices 28, 30 and to supply pressure to the cylinder ends, thus to drive the cutter heads toward the path of member 20.

Secured to cam 88 is an elongated actuating plate. or arm. 94 disposed in the path of the downstream end of member 20. The actuating arm is disposed downstream from the cutter devices a distance substantially equal to the length of section to be broken from member 20. Movement of member 20 along the path causes the member to engage actuating arm 94 and swings the arm toward the dot-dashed outline in FIG. I. This rotates cam 88 to a position wherein switch 80 is closed. thus to actuate valve 68 to produce extension of the rams of the cutting devices and drive the cutter elements against opposed sides of members 20.

Secured to the upstream side of plate 94 is a pusher element. indicated generally at 98. The pusher element has a roller I00 journaled thereon adjacent its end spaced from plate 94. An elongated tension spring 104 is secured at one of its ends to element 98 adjacent rol ler I00 and at its other end to a support plate spaced laterally therefrom. The spring rotates pusher element 98, actuating arm 94 and cam 88 in a counterclockwise direction about pivot pin 90 to the rest position for these elements shown in solid outline in FIG. I. When member 20 engages plate 94 and swings it toward the position shown in dot-dashed outline. pusher element 98 is swung therewith into pushing engagement with a side of the member. as shown in dot-dashed outline. This produces a side thrust force on the end portion of the member which is to be broken oft urging it toward the right in FIG. I.

An inclined ramp I06 slopes downwardly and away from the cutting region. The ramp is provided to allow a broken off section of member 20 to roll away from the cutting region.

Explaining the operation ol the apparatus. as member 20 is moved longitudinally in the direction of arrow 22, its downstream end engages plate 94. Continued movement of the member swings plate 94. pusher 98. and cam 88 about pivot pin 90. Roller I00 olthe pusher element thus is moved into engagement with the lelt side of the member and produces a side thrust thereon urging it toward ramp I06. Such rotation of cam 88 depresses plunger 82 of switch 80. actuating valve 68 to supply pressure lluid to the cylinder ends of the rams of cutting devices 28. 3t) and to exhaust lluid from their rod ends. This then operates to drive the cutter elements of the oppositely disposed cutter heads on the cutting devices toward the path of the member and against opposite sides of the member. as illustrated in dot'dashed outline in FIG. 2. The rams and cutter heads continue to apply cutting force to opposite sides of the member as it is moved further along the path in the direction of arrow 22. Being pivotally mounted at their cylinder ends the rams and their associated cutter elements are able to swing freely with movement of the member to follow movement of the member along the path while applying a cutting force thereto. The cutter elements thus are permitted to move with the member along the path after being driven into the sides of the member by their associated rams. Eventually the portion of the member downstream from the cutters breaks oft and rolls down ramp 106.

After the broken off portion of the member has moved away from plate 94, the plate. pusher element 98, and cam 88 are swung in a counterclockwise direction by spring 104 to the position shown in solid outline in FIG. I. This allows switch 80 to open. causing valve 68 to supply fluid under pressure to the rod ends of the ram cylinders of cutting devices 28, 30 and exhaust fluid from their opposite ends, thus to retract the cutter heads to opposite sides of the path. The retracting springs connected to the ram cylinders of the cutting devices then swing the rants and their associated cutter heads back to their initial positions illustrated in solid outline in FIG. I.

With such construction and operation. the cutting devices may produce a cutting action on opposed sides of a member as it is moved along a path therebetween. Further. since the cutting devices are independently mounted for swinging freely to follow the path of the member. there is virtually no side thrust imparted to the cutter elements which may damage the cutting devices.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described herein. it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that variations and modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. Apparatus for breaking off portions of an elongated member mm ed longitudinally along a path. said apparatus comprising a pair of opposed cutter elements disposed on opposite sides of said path and mounted for shifting along lines extending at substantial angles relative to said path between inoperative positions spaced laterally outwardly to opposite sides of said path and operative positions in said path power-operated means operatively connected to said cutter elements operable on actuation to shift said cutter elements under power from their inoperative to their operative positions to drive the cutter elements into opposite sides of a member moving along the path therebetween. and

means mounting said cutter elements for movement with and at the same speed as said member is moved along said patlL each cutter element being mounted for movement independently of movement of the other cutter element. whereby each element is permitted to follow the path of its associated side ofthe member independently of the other member.

2. The apparatus of claim I. which further comprises a mounting frame. and wherein said power-operated means connected to a cutter element comprises an cxtcnsible-contractible ram disposed with one of its ends directed toward said path and its other end directed away from said path with a cutter element being secured to said one end of the ram. and said mounting means comprises journal means pivotally interconnecting said other end of the ram to said frame and provid ing a pivot axis about which the ram and cutter element may swing substantially in the direction of said path between a first position and a second position spaced downstream along said path from the first position.

3. The apparatus ofclaim 2, which further comprises retracting means operatively connected to said cutter elements operable to urge said cutter elements from their second positions to their first positions.

4. Apparatus for breaking off a preselected length of an end portion of an elongate member moving longitudinally along a path, comprising a mounting frame.

a pair of opposed cutter elements disposed on opposite sides of said path and mounted for shifting between inoperative positions spaced laterally outwardly of opposite sides of the path and operative positions projecting into the path.

power-operated means connected to each of said cutter elements operable to drive said cutter elements under power between said inoperative and operative positions, including for a cutter element an extensible-contractible ram disposed with one of its ends directed toward said path and its other end direeted away from said path with said cutter element secured to said one end of the ram, support means mounting said cutter elements for movement in the direction of said path including, for a cutter element journal means spaced outwardly from said cutter element in a direction away from said path pivotally interconnecting said other end of its associated ram to said frame and provid ing a pivot axis about which the ram and cutter element may swing in an are substantially in the direction of said path between a first position and a second position spaced downstream along said path from the first position. retracting means operatively connected to said cutter elements operable to urge said cutter elements from said second position to said first position and control means operable to actuate said poweroperated means to drive the cutter elements from their inoperative to their operative positions when a preselected length of a member to be broken off has been moved past the cutter elements, said control means comprising valve means operable to control a flow of fluid under pressure to and release of fluid under pressure from opposite ends of said ram to produce selective extension and retraction of the ram. and switch means having an actuating arm disposed in said path downstream from said cutter elements in a position to be engaged by the downstream end of a member as it is moved along the path, which arm is shiftable between a first position and a second position spaced downstream from said first position, said switch means being 0pcratively connected to said valve means and operable to actuate said valve means to produce actuation of said ram to drive a cutter element from its inoperative to its operative positions when the actuating arm is shifted from its first to its second position and to drive said cutter element from its operative to its inoperative position when the actuating arm is returned to its first position.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, which further comprises biasing means yieldably urging said actuating arm from its second toward its first positions. 

1. Apparatus for breaking off portions of an elongated member moved longitudinally along a path, said apparatus comprising a pair of opposed cutter elements disposed on opposite sides of said path and mounted for shifting along lines extending at substantial angles relative to said path between inoperative positions spaced laterally outwardly to opposite sides of said path and operative positions in said path, power-operated means operatively connected to said cutter elements operable on actuation to shift said cutter elements under power from their inoperative to their operative positions to drive the cutter elements into opposite sides of a member moving along the path therebetween, and means mounting said cutter elements for movement with and at the same speed as said member is moved along said path, each cutter element being mounted foR movement independently of movement of the other cutter element, whereby each element is permitted to follow the path of its associated side of the member independently of the other member.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, which further comprises a mounting frame, and wherein said power-operated means connected to a cutter element comprises an extensible-contractible ram disposed with one of its ends directed toward said path and its other end directed away from said path with a cutter element being secured to said one end of the ram, and said mounting means comprises journal means pivotally interconnecting said other end of the ram to said frame and providing a pivot axis about which the ram and cutter element may swing substantially in the direction of said path between a first position and a second position spaced downstream along said path from the first position.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, which further comprises retracting means operatively connected to said cutter elements operable to urge said cutter elements from their second positions to their first positions.
 4. Apparatus for breaking off a preselected length of an end portion of an elongate member moving longitudinally along a path, comprising a mounting frame, a pair of opposed cutter elements disposed on opposite sides of said path and mounted for shifting between inoperative positions spaced laterally outwardly of opposite sides of the path and operative positions projecting into the path, power-operated means connected to each of said cutter elements operable to drive said cutter elements under power between said inoperative and operative positions, including for a cutter element an extensible-contractible ram disposed with one of its ends directed toward said path and its other end directed away from said path with said cutter element secured to said one end of the ram, support means mounting said cutter elements for movement in the direction of said path including, for a cutter element, journal means spaced outwardly from said cutter element in a direction away from said path pivotally interconnecting said other end of its associated ram to said frame and providing a pivot axis about which the ram and cutter element may swing in an arc substantially in the direction of said path between a first position and a second position spaced downstream along said path from the first position, retracting means operatively connected to said cutter elements operable to urge said cutter elements from said second position to said first position, and control means operable to actuate said power-operated means to drive the cutter elements from their inoperative to their operative positions when a preselected length of a member to be broken off has been moved past the cutter elements, said control means comprising valve means operable to control a flow of fluid under pressure to and release of fluid under pressure from opposite ends of said ram to produce selective extension and retraction of the ram, and switch means having an actuating arm disposed in said path downstream from said cutter elements in a position to be engaged by the downstream end of a member as it is moved along the path, which arm is shiftable between a first position and a second position spaced downstream from said first position, said switch means being operatively connected to said valve means and operable to actuate said valve means to produce actuation of said ram to drive a cutter element from its inoperative to its operative positions when the actuating arm is shifted from its first to its second position and to drive said cutter element from its operative to its inoperative position when the actuating arm is returned to its first position.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, which further comprises biasing means yieldably urging said actuating arm from its second toward its first positions. 